Accessibility

Our commitment

Boulder Shack was crowdfunded by climbers and is run as a not-for-profit. Everyone welcome shapes the sessions we run, the prices we charge and the way we build this website.

We do not claim to have everything right yet. This page says what is in place today and what is still being checked.

Visiting the centre

We are at Unit 4 Imperial Park, Empress Road, Southampton SO14 0JW, with free parking outside. Bouldering needs no ropes or harnesses, the walls rise over thick padded flooring, and the coaching team are used to adapting a session to the person in front of them.

If you have access needs, or you are simply not sure whether a session will work for you, ring 02380 171 808 or email team@bouldershack.co.uk before you come and we will talk it through honestly.

[CONFIRM: step-free access into the building and the climbing area, accessible toilet and changing facilities, and accessible parking near the entrance.]

Sessions built to include people

Alongside general climbing we run sessions so that nobody has to be the odd one out:

• •Older and Boulder, a relaxed coached session on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, no experience needed.
• •A women, trans and non-binary night, with a guided warm-up and then climbing at your own pace.
• •An LGBTQ+ social, same relaxed format, with support and advice on hand throughout.
• •Paraclimbing sessions and coaching. [CONFIRM: how often these run and how to book one.]

Keeping the cost down

Money should not be the thing that keeps you off the wall. Concession rates apply to students, over 65s, people on DSS, registered disabled climbers and carers. NHS, blue light and armed services get 10% off adult prices with ID.

If cost is still a barrier, please talk to us. Our community funds support through Community Climbs CIC, which exists to make climbing accessible for everybody.

This website

We build the site to work for as many people as possible, whatever device or assistive technology you use. In practice that means:

• •Semantic HTML with real headings, landmarks and labels, so a screen reader can make sense of a page.
• •Text alternatives on every image that describe what is actually in the photograph.
• •Full keyboard navigation with visible focus outlines.
• •Colour contrast checked against WCAG AA, including on every button.
• •Respect for your reduced motion setting: animations and the hero film are switched off when your device asks for that.
• •Nothing that depends on JavaScript to read. The pages work without it.

Tell us what needs fixing

If any part of the centre or this website is hard for you to use, we genuinely want to know. Tell us at the desk, by email, or through the contact page, and we will do our best to put it right.